Secretary Gwanggong's Survival Diary-Chapter 13

"Oh, really? Thank you... It’s so warm."

Han Yejun had been quietly admiring the clothes all the way here.

I decided to generously credit that little goodwill to Yoon Taeo.

Maybe it worked — Han Yejun’s gaze seemed to soften for a moment.

He even smiled a little, after being so stiff and frozen before.

"If you need anything, please just say the word."

"No! I’m fine, really, now...."

He still mumbled and hesitated, but compared to when he first saw Yoon Taeo and locked up like a statue, he was definitely a little more relaxed.

I decided to keep the mood light — casually mixing in some company talk with heavy-handed praise for Yoon Taeo.

The goal: emphasize the fact that such an incredible man... was interested in him.

Just then, the food started arriving at the table.

"What."

The dishes were all laid out, but none of the three of us touched our chopsticks.

So I lightly kicked Yoon Taeo’s shoe under the table.

He shot me a blunt look, like, what’s the problem now?

I had to frantically roll my eyes and signal: Offer food! Be a kind Alpha! Serve Han Yejun some dishes!

"Ah."

At least he wasn’t completely dense.

Yoon Taeo picked up his chopsticks first, tilted them, and casually scooped up a slice of coral grouper sashimi — then plopped it down squarely on my plate.

"Eat. You said you wanted coral grouper."

"No... Sir, that’s not what I meant...."

"You too. Eat."

...Is this guy actually fucking stupid?

Why the hell would he put it on my plate?

"Yejun, please eat a lot. The sashimi’s fresh — caught today."

"Ah, yes. Thank you. I’ll enjoy it, Sieon-hyung."

Han Yejun smiled brightly, pretending not to notice Yoon Taeo’s bizarre behavior.

But... hyung? He called me hyung, right?

"...Hyung? You two got close fast."

"Ah... Sieon-hyung just seems like a really good person...."

Han Yejun scratched his cheek awkwardly and didn’t add anything else, instead starting to eat.

I thought I heard a small snort escape from Yoon Taeo’s nose, but whatever — I pretended not to hear.

From this point forward, I was closing both my ears and eyes, focusing only on eating.

I had done enough to lay the groundwork for their romance.

But... what the hell did they do to this coral grouper?

The freshness made it feel like I was biting into something still alive, sure — but that chewy, almost bouncy texture made me keep reaching for more without even realizing.

"You don’t seem to like it."

I froze mid-bite when Yoon Taeo’s voice cut across the table.

My appetite instantly nosedived, and I swallowed the half-chewed sashimi like a rock.

"...You don’t like it...? Why...?"

Now that I looked closer, Han Yejun wasn’t eating much at all.

Maybe three or four slices at most?

"Ah, it’s just that... I usually don’t eat much. But it’s delicious. I’m enjoying it."

Right.

In the drama, all of Yoon Taeo’s Betas had tiny appetites.

They always looked delicate and had picky tastes to match.

Still, if Han Yejun didn’t eat properly and it somehow blew back on me, I’d be the one suffering.

"Should we order something else?"

"No need. Secretary Kim, you just keep eating."

Another slice of leftover sashimi landed on my plate — courtesy of Yoon Taeo.

...There was something odd about it.

Something I couldn’t quite explain, a strange flicker of feeling.

****

"Who compiled the research data?"

"I did, sir."

After lunch, Yoon Taeo insisted on personally escorting his Beta back, and I didn’t object.

Considering how the meal had gone, I figured it would be fine — and seeing him return to the office without incident, it seemed I was right.

The secretaries reconvened in the conference room to share the investigation materials I had ordered that morning about Han Yejun.

"Is it really true that the Beta has no one?"

"...Sorry? Officially, yes, according to the records...."

Why the hell is that idiot still alive?

With that airhead brain, he should’ve died ages ago.

"I did some digging myself — there’s an old lover."

A murmur ran through the room at my words.

No surprise.

Unless you had watched the original drama like I had, you wouldn't know.

Han Yejun.

A tragic character who, despite himself, would end up hurting a lot of people around him.

He had a lover he grew up with.

The man had a violent streak — regularly beat and tormented Han Yejun — but they loved each other anyway.

After a mistake during a fight, the lover ended up in prison.

And when that man came back, Han Yejun’s fragile stability would shatter into chaos.

"Technically, the Beta is wavering toward the VIP now.

But there are too many risks.

Right now, he’s alone, scared, desperate.

An Alpha like Yoon Taeo showing up must seem both comforting and terrifying."

"...Then maybe this time things could work out, sir?"

"But what if... the old lover, the one he lost everything for, shows up again?

Battered, broken, but still reaching out?"

Han Yejun would inevitably falter — drawn to Yoon Taeo’s obsessive affection at first, only to spiral when his former lover returned.

Eventually, he would not choose Yoon Taeo.

And in his fury, Yoon Taeo would take revenge — killing the lover right in front of Han Yejun’s eyes.

Needless to say, in the process, most of the secretarial staff and security teams would be wiped out by the emotionally unstable Yoon Taeo.

"But... it’s not like there’s no way to prevent it."

All eyes turned to me.

Honestly, I was curious too.

If I forcibly derailed the plot... what would happen?

What if I succeeded in pairing Han Yejun and Yoon Taeo together for real...?

****

"I heard you moved Haejun."

"...Yejun, sir."

"Right."

Yoon Taeo’s voice was detached, mechanical, as he checked the paperwork.

"The previous place had weak security, so we relocated him somewhere safer — and more convenient for you to visit, sir."

"Make sure he has enough money.

He looked like he wasn’t doing well."

"I’ll handle that personally. No need to worry."

While I was giving a report on Han Yejun’s current status, my phone buzzed.

Glancing over at Yoon Taeo to make sure he wasn’t paying attention, I quickly checked the message.

Hyung, could we have dinner together tonight...?

It was Han Yejun.

"Sir, Yejun’s asking if you’d like to have dinner with him tonight. Should I cancel your other plans?"

"...With me?"

Only then did Yoon Taeo lift his gaze from the documents, locking eyes with me.

Truthfully, lately, I had been exchanging messages with Han Yejun pretty often.

Partly to soothe his loneliness — and partly to keep tabs on him.

"Yes. He’s inviting you, sir."

"...Interesting. Sure."

It was starting to seem more and more likely:

Maybe this world, even if based on the drama, wasn’t bound to the same ending.

After I decided to actively pair them together, the two had been having surprisingly normal, almost mundane dates.

Maybe — just maybe — this could actually work.

In the original script, Han Yejun was the one Yoon Taeo had loved most, even more than the supposed "main characters."

If it worked out, it would honestly be a relief for me too.

"Let’s leave a little early."

"Yes, sir. I’ll get everything ready."

I helped Yoon Taeo into his jacket and coat, grabbed his bag, and followed him out.

I made sure to shoot Han Yejun a quick reply on the way.

Since I had arranged for him to move somewhere close to the company, it didn’t take long to get there.

"This is it?"

"Yes, sir. It has excellent security."

It was Yoon Taeo’s first visit.

This place had been carefully chosen by me — completely outside Han Yejun’s old haunts.

And more importantly, a place his former lover would never find.

Even if he somehow tried, the building’s security would block him at the door.

Ding-dong.

The door swung open and Han Yejun, seeing who it was, froze in shock.

"Oh... Come in."

Realizing something had gone wrong, I followed Yoon Taeo inside without needing orders.

A quick glance at the dining table confirmed it — Han Yejun had no idea Yoon Taeo was coming.

He must have thought it was just me.

"Yejun, please start dinner with the CEO first."

"...Ah, yes...."

"I have some work to handle, so I’ll be in the other room."

Thankfully, Han Yejun seemed to catch on.

He awkwardly invited Yoon Taeo to sit, and to my surprise, Taeo didn’t refuse — he sat down across from him.

"Thank you for the house, sir...."

"Why would I be your CEO? That title’s a bit much."

Clatter.

Somewhere out of sight, the sharp sound of chopsticks dropping hit my ears.

No doubt Han Yejun had fumbled them — spooked by Yoon Taeo’s trademark growl of a voice.

I had no idea why he insisted on sounding so damn scary all the time.

Sitting quietly on the sofa like I didn’t exist, I kept typing up the report on Yoon Taeo’s movements.

"Dinner at Beta’s house. Beta dropped chopsticks when startled by Yoon Taeo’s voice.

Confirmed: extremely fragile temperament."

"Then... what should I call you?"

"Who knows. Think about it."

"Ah... okay, sure."

"And the soup’s a little salty."

What the hell.

If he didn’t want to be called ‘CEO,’ what the hell was he expecting instead?

Was this what a normal couple’s conversation was supposed to sound like?

Actually... were these two even interested in each other?

"Are you finished eating?"

"Lost my appetite."

Wait...

Why was the atmosphere suddenly like this?

The moment I let that thought sink in, a strange, uneasy feeling started prickling at the back of my mind.

Something about this wasn’t right.

It wasn’t the Yoon Taeo I remembered from the drama...

Not exactly.

"Let’s go, Secretary Kim."

"Uh? Already...?

Sir, you should at least have a coffee or— I mean— ah! I’ll just grab a quick bite myself! Please, take your time talking—"

Maybe it was my fault.

Maybe they needed to, you know, seal the deal, but felt awkward with me hanging around.

I hurriedly grabbed my coat—

Only for my wrist to get snagged by Yoon Taeo’s hand.

"I said let’s go. Enough."

"Uh... right... just a second."

I walked over to Han Yejun, who was still standing by the dining table, frozen like a lost puppy.

"Sorry... I must’ve misread the message...."

"It’s okay, hyung...

But... it kinda feels like I upset him...."

"That’s just how he is. Don’t worry."

Han Yejun whispered timidly, almost on the verge of tears.

It was so heartbreakingly cute that I reached out and patted his head.

"I’ll swing by around lunchtime tomorrow, okay?

We’ll go out for something tasty."

"Yeah... hyung...."

After soothing the guilt-ridden Han Yejun, I quickly followed Yoon Taeo, who was already halfway through putting on his shoes.

"Assign a cook to this house."

"Yes, sir. Understood."

"How can he eat when the food’s barely edible?"

...God, this picky bastard.

His tongue was the only thing refined about him.

"But, sir...

Did something happen? You seem... upset...."

I asked cautiously once we were in the car.

I couldn’t see his face from the back seat, but judging from the atmosphere at dinner, it was obvious his mood was shit.

"Do you think I’m an idiot, Secretary Kim?"

"...Sir?"

"At the very least, I know whether a meal was prepared for me or not."

"...Ah... I’m sorry, sir. Actually, that’s because I..."

"Forget it.

I just needed to see for myself."

He cut me off before I could even finish my excuse.

Then silence.

A long, heavy silence.

What was he trying to confirm?

And since when {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} did he get so... perceptive?

If he was so good at reading people, why was he still chasing after a Beta who clearly made him miserable?

I had plenty of questions, but considering the lies I’d just been caught in, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

It was shaping up to be a very uncomfortable drive back.

❖ ❖ ❖

"Have a good night, sir."

I took Yoon Taeo’s coat and gave the customary polite bow.

But he didn’t move.

"You’re not eating dinner?"

"You just had dinner, sir."

Oh, hell.

Was he losing his memory already?

"Not me. You."

"Ah, I’ll eat later."

"Make that thing."

...Motherfucker.

So that was why he barely touched his food earlier — because he wanted this.

The thought of having to cook after a long day made my vision swim.

"What thing...?"

"Ramen."

"Excuse me?"

"Cook some ramen. Three packs."